Duck hen suffering terribly--bumble foot plus (Update: NOW PICS)

[cocosandy]

keep in mind that its likely staph, so you want to protect yourself as much as possible.

 

[xke4]

Can you get your hands on Hibitane ointment? It is excellent for bumblefoot once the lesion has been removed. Lesion hole would need to be filled with the ointment then wrapped with gauze. I am thinking until she is healed, isolation in a Rubbermaid tote if no other place to house her. Haven't read all the other posts (dashing off to work) so excuse me if I have repeated something already said.

 

[cocosandy]

I isolate in a dog crate with newspapers or some such on the bottom which I change all the time, because if there is an injury then the bird is gonna put its foot in poop right there on the clean bandages!
I was able to keep this hen in the dog crate and put her out with the flock that way and then pull her into the basement for treatment at night.
This has gone on for months but I finally got it all..
I have a list of the treatments I tried....mostly antibiotics...I find Penn g injected into the site and or ankle to be the most helpful
you just gotta get all the pus and core/ribbon out...do your best...it will bleed alot...
try not to be anti antibiotics on this one because its staph and you have to try a few things sometimes.
It is not easy to cure this and clean bandages are paramount (according to my vet)...I just did my best and as long as the bird was still interested in being a bird I kept trying.
shes now out there with her flock hopping around....incredible!

 

[jmc]

I thank you so much!

I am opening the foot TOMORROW.

I am soaking it in epsom salt water after washing foot and before openiing it.

After cleaned I am going to pack it with Neosporin ointment and wrap with gauze pads, gauze bandage and tape.

I just can t see her eating if I isolate her inside though, in a strange environ UNLESS I FORCE FEED HER, which btw, I plan on doing. She doesn't hardly anything.

I can't believe what could be so mild looking could be that painful as to make her not eat and not even quack. She almost CANT vocalize.

That's what makes me think the infectioon is widespread and raging.............

 

[cocosandy]

well, I think that if it was in the tendons and bone you would see redness and more swelling than you are. also in that its a duck, it may be easier to get the thing out because its been soaking all the time.
You can let her range if you cover the bottom of the foot with waterproof tape. They actually have some huge bandaids that are waterproof in the pharmacy and they have a pretty good seal. if the water she swims in is clean(ish) it should be ok...if you think she will eat anyway freeranging...are the others bullying her?
Try some hardboiled egg...I just boiled up a bunch of eggs (I wormed my flock but not the ducks yet because I was unsure of doses) and the ducks went wild for crushed hardboiled eggs with the shell on.
I added some vitamins with probiotics. Of course, my ducks would eat anything!...Maybe even go to the pet store and get 20 large crickets and give them to her one at a time as a treat.
Anyway, stage 4 and 5 is when its in the bone...they feel that plug more than the surgery in my experience....once the plug is out they are relieved. its a hard thing pressing on the bone.
I used bactine on the outside when I cut to numb and keep it clean...look at all the pictures and read the threads...especially the ones about getting the plug and the base infection out...it comes back if you dont really hollow it out. but you dont want to mess around the bone too much, and ducks have less there. have some very good tweezers, an exacto knife or scalpel and a magnifying glass/good light if your eyes are anything like mine have been since after I turned 40!
I didnt wear gloves but it is staph so be careful....I even stabbed myself with the knife at one point and I'm still alive, so I guess that the bactine I put on worked;-)

Ill be waiting to see how it goes...again, good luck...and read the threads; ask any questions you have....alot of us have experience with this, and its a gnarly thing. But if the bird can be relieved and goes back to being a bird, then its worth it.

 

[chickensioux]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=236649

This is a great "how to" thread from another BYCer. Hope it helps too.

 

[cocosandy]

Yes! this is the best thread on bumblefoot that Ive seen...Ive researched far and wide. The only thing that it doesnt cover is antibiotics if the thing gets infected or worse. But we can get to that if its necessary.
Since its staph it usually invoves trial and error...
Im sure the buck foot will be different and Im dying to know what it will be like.
because there isnt much there. I hope that keeps it very localized and you can just get the thing right out and give your girl instant relief...
again...good luck and take pics.

 

[jmc]

I can only do so much research. I have to get to the girl lest she wither away entirely.

Ate a few night crawler pieces today, left the rest. ate a bit of h-bld egg (tiny, tiny bit) would not touch her beloved leaf lettuce or her dear clover.

How can ya force feed a bird to keep her from dying, if she feels to sick to eat.

This is gonna be a great week.......................

 

[cocosandy]

well, depending on how far you want to go...like, if shes down off her feet and is miserable, then maybe shes not making it....you can get some baby bird formula from the pet store....for parrots...and try dripping that down her throat. Maybe she'll take baby food? whatever you get into her try to add the electrolytes and vitamin pack...sprinkle a little...and probiotics if you can get non dairy ones...I use bird ones.
Sounds so sad...I love my ducks and they are such happy jolly creatures that I would be so sad if one was down...
They are filthy and have added a whole level to my cleaning of the barn, but I cant imagine not having them talking to me all the time.
I hope we can learnmore about duck bumblefoot this way...its got to be slightly different because its in H20 so much; the foot is so different. I will try to read my avian medicine books and see if I can find out about the duck foot.
Just do it....dont wait! I did mine wihtout knowing anything. But then I found her with these swollen toes and what looked like a rock embedded in one, so I popped it out.
That wasnt the whole plug because there was a ribbon, and if there is a ribbon you need to follow it to the base.....I should have gone in from the other side but it was so messy by then.
anyway, she is fine now, minus one foot! But hell, she is alive whereas if I had dont nothing she would have died in pain...
so go on and do it...use bactine because it numbs.
Will a duck lay down for you like a chicken? if you cover its head?
Mine are so squirmy that I cant imagine it, but I do catch them just to give them kisses all the time and they get calm...but as soon as I release they are back to their busy schedule, checking every hole in the yard for something to wash in the pool!

 

[redhen]

Aww! So sorry to hear about you duck.

I hope she makes it.